Citizens to have voice Nov. 16 on location of proposed library

Citizens to have voice Nov. 16
on location of proposed library
BY INGRID KINDRED
News staff writer
Birmingham citizens will get a chance to give their opinion on the site of the new Public Library.
City Council today agreed to set a public hearing on the issue for 6 p.m. Nov. 16.
The council move came within hours of a Birmingham Planning Commission request for citizens' opinions on the issue, which has been the subject of some controversy for months.
THE HEARING will be in council chambers at City Hall.
It was suggested by Councilman Russell Yarbrough, who said he wanted a "full-fledged public hearing, not at a council meeting."
Council President Nina Miglionico said she would go along with the hearing since a majority of council mem
bers favored it. But she said she felt "everybody who has a lot to sell" will show up to be heard. "I am opposed to wasting citizens' time as much as mine."
Miss Miglionico said she would be out of town and unable to attend the hearing. Councilwoman Bessie Estell said she favored the public hearing, but
Turn to Page 4, Column 2
(Continued from Page 1
also would not be able to attend..
COUNCILMEN YARBROUGH, David Herring, Larry Langford and E.C. Overton said they planned to attend the hearing.
Presently, the new library is planned for 21st Street between Third and Fourth Avenues North.
Although asking for a public hearing on the issue, Birmingham Planning Commission Monday night did approve the proposed site.
The commission vote came after its Public Improvements Committee, which is charged with approving sites for public buildings, first approved the 21st Street location on a 3-2 vote.
Library Director George Stewart outlined steps dating back to 1961 taken by library officials to come up with a location for a new library.
STEWART SAID the Library Board in March, 1973, told the mayor and council it recommended that a site on Seventh Avenue North, across from the present library, not be used for the new central library.
That site is owned by the city, and Planning Commission member Rufus Points said it "highly concerns me" that the city condemned the Seventh Avenue property and proceeded to buy it after the Library Board recommended using another site.
Vann said that as late as last year he believed the Seventh Avenue site would be used for the library. And, said Vann,
"There are some contradictions and confusions about this matter," said Councilman John Katopodis. He said that is why some council members have questioned use of the 21st Street site.
But Katopodis Monday night recommended approval of the 21st Street site, saying the Library Board had made "a valid attempt" to explain all factors considered in the site selection. And, he said, the longer the project is delayed the more it will cost.
"WE ALREADY know the library is going to cost much more than the bond issue allows," said Katopodis.
Stewart said studies show that citizens find the present library hard to get to. It also has no parking facilities, he said.
The same problems would be encountered if the new library is built across the street from the present facility, he said.
"It's senseless to build a multimillion-dollar facility and not get the most out of it," said Stewart. He said the new building "can potentially have a tremendous impact on downtown."
City planner Larry Watts of the Community Development staff said the staff finds the 21st Street site satisfactory. To reject it, be said, the staff would have had to do detailed studies on traffic and other matters already extensively considered by the Library Board.
Most Planning Commission members said they favored development of the new library, but several questioned purchasing another site just two blocks away from one the city already owns.
SEVERAL commission members said they were concerned about costs the city will incur in buying the 21st Street site. The site could cost the city $500,000 more than it anticipates getting if it sells the Seventh Avenue site.
Stewart said, however, if the Seventh Avenue site were used, an additional $375,000 probably would be spent to demolish buildings now housing several offices on Seventh Avenue, and the city would have to pay to relocate such agencies as the Birmingham Symphony office and state parole office.
Mrs. Kent, who recommended the public hearing, said nothing she heard at the meeting had convinced her that the Seventh Avenue site was a "bad site," and she felt money involved in abandoning that site should be a consideration.
Man killed as truck collides with train
T U SC A LOOS A — A train-pickup truck collision which killed one mar and seriously injured another Monday was still being investigated today, saic state troopers.
Dead is L.C. Lee, 66, the driver of the truck, said troopers. In serious condi• tion at Druid City Hospital is Eddie Lee Scroggins, 31. Both men are from Tuscaloosa, troopers said.
The accident happened in the Cotton. dale community about a mile north of Tuscaloosa.

Click tabs to swap between content that is broken into logical sections.

This material may be protected under Title 17 of the U. S. Copyright Law which governs the making of photocopies or reproductions of copyrighted materials. You may use the digitized material for private study, scholarship, or research

Citizens to have voice Nov. 16
on location of proposed library
BY INGRID KINDRED
News staff writer
Birmingham citizens will get a chance to give their opinion on the site of the new Public Library.
City Council today agreed to set a public hearing on the issue for 6 p.m. Nov. 16.
The council move came within hours of a Birmingham Planning Commission request for citizens' opinions on the issue, which has been the subject of some controversy for months.
THE HEARING will be in council chambers at City Hall.
It was suggested by Councilman Russell Yarbrough, who said he wanted a "full-fledged public hearing, not at a council meeting."
Council President Nina Miglionico said she would go along with the hearing since a majority of council mem
bers favored it. But she said she felt "everybody who has a lot to sell" will show up to be heard. "I am opposed to wasting citizens' time as much as mine."
Miss Miglionico said she would be out of town and unable to attend the hearing. Councilwoman Bessie Estell said she favored the public hearing, but
Turn to Page 4, Column 2
(Continued from Page 1
also would not be able to attend..
COUNCILMEN YARBROUGH, David Herring, Larry Langford and E.C. Overton said they planned to attend the hearing.
Presently, the new library is planned for 21st Street between Third and Fourth Avenues North.
Although asking for a public hearing on the issue, Birmingham Planning Commission Monday night did approve the proposed site.
The commission vote came after its Public Improvements Committee, which is charged with approving sites for public buildings, first approved the 21st Street location on a 3-2 vote.
Library Director George Stewart outlined steps dating back to 1961 taken by library officials to come up with a location for a new library.
STEWART SAID the Library Board in March, 1973, told the mayor and council it recommended that a site on Seventh Avenue North, across from the present library, not be used for the new central library.
That site is owned by the city, and Planning Commission member Rufus Points said it "highly concerns me" that the city condemned the Seventh Avenue property and proceeded to buy it after the Library Board recommended using another site.
Vann said that as late as last year he believed the Seventh Avenue site would be used for the library. And, said Vann,
"There are some contradictions and confusions about this matter," said Councilman John Katopodis. He said that is why some council members have questioned use of the 21st Street site.
But Katopodis Monday night recommended approval of the 21st Street site, saying the Library Board had made "a valid attempt" to explain all factors considered in the site selection. And, he said, the longer the project is delayed the more it will cost.
"WE ALREADY know the library is going to cost much more than the bond issue allows," said Katopodis.
Stewart said studies show that citizens find the present library hard to get to. It also has no parking facilities, he said.
The same problems would be encountered if the new library is built across the street from the present facility, he said.
"It's senseless to build a multimillion-dollar facility and not get the most out of it," said Stewart. He said the new building "can potentially have a tremendous impact on downtown."
City planner Larry Watts of the Community Development staff said the staff finds the 21st Street site satisfactory. To reject it, be said, the staff would have had to do detailed studies on traffic and other matters already extensively considered by the Library Board.
Most Planning Commission members said they favored development of the new library, but several questioned purchasing another site just two blocks away from one the city already owns.
SEVERAL commission members said they were concerned about costs the city will incur in buying the 21st Street site. The site could cost the city $500,000 more than it anticipates getting if it sells the Seventh Avenue site.
Stewart said, however, if the Seventh Avenue site were used, an additional $375,000 probably would be spent to demolish buildings now housing several offices on Seventh Avenue, and the city would have to pay to relocate such agencies as the Birmingham Symphony office and state parole office.
Mrs. Kent, who recommended the public hearing, said nothing she heard at the meeting had convinced her that the Seventh Avenue site was a "bad site," and she felt money involved in abandoning that site should be a consideration.
Man killed as truck collides with train
T U SC A LOOS A — A train-pickup truck collision which killed one mar and seriously injured another Monday was still being investigated today, saic state troopers.
Dead is L.C. Lee, 66, the driver of the truck, said troopers. In serious condi• tion at Druid City Hospital is Eddie Lee Scroggins, 31. Both men are from Tuscaloosa, troopers said.
The accident happened in the Cotton. dale community about a mile north of Tuscaloosa.